Chapter Thirty-Nine: First Signs of Suspicion

In the hospital ward, Ying Xi lay unconscious on the bed, an IV drip attached to his hand. A kind-faced female doctor was conducting further examinations. Liu Rushuang and Lu Huan watched the doctor closely, while Bai Yulou stood anxiously to the side.

“Doctor, is he going to be all right?” Liu Rushuang asked, her face etched with worry.

The doctor frowned slightly. “I recommend he stays for observation and undergoes a thorough examination.”

“Is it serious?” Lu Huan couldn’t help but ask.

“We can’t determine the severity until after a full checkup,” the doctor replied.

Seeing this, Liu Rushuang glanced at Ying Xi lying on the bed. “Then let him be admitted. I’ll go pay the fees.”

As they spoke, Ying Xi’s fingers twitched, and he slowly regained consciousness. Weakly, he rebuked Liu Rushuang, “When did my affairs become yours to decide? Doctor, it was just a stomachache—an old illness. No need to be admitted.”

The doctor frowned and countered, “This isn’t a stomach issue, it’s your liver. Drinking too much bitter herb tea triggered your condition. You mustn’t drink it in excess again, or you could be risking your life.”

Ying Xi merely smiled dismissively. “My liver is fine. It’s just my stomach—a chronic ailment.”

Everyone looked at each other, puzzled.

“But—”

“Doctor, I know my own body best. Thank you.” Ying Xi cut her off with a forced smile.

The doctor hesitated, wanting to say more.

Noticing Ying Xi had regained consciousness, Liu Rushuang leaned in curiously. “Brother Xi, if you knew you had stomach problems, why did you still drink bitter herb tea?”

Ying Xi didn’t answer. He turned to Bai Yulou, gritting his teeth.

“It was my fault, Sister Shuang,” Bai Yulou confessed, guilt-ridden. “I made an extra-strong cup of bitter herb tea for Inspector Ying.”

“Why did you try to harm Brother Xi?” Liu Rushuang glared at him angrily.

Head down, Bai Yulou mumbled, “I just wanted to play a prank on Inspector Ying. I never thought it would turn out like this…”

Enraged, Liu Rushuang grabbed Bai Yulou’s ear. “I’ll dock half a year’s pay from you to buy supplements for Brother Xi!”

Bai Yulou looked utterly dejected, as if all hope was lost.

Liu Rushuang then approached Ying Xi’s bed with a smile plastered on her face. “Brother Xi, since Bai Yulou caused you trouble, I share responsibility. Let me take care of you!”

Ying Xi wrinkled his nose in disdain. “No need. You’re noisy all day, not good for recovery.”

“Inspector Ying, better let Officer Lu look after you. Men caring for men is more convenient,” Bai Yulou interjected.

Ying Xi said nothing, tacitly agreeing.

“Fine, I’ll stay and take care of Inspector Ying. You two can go,” said Lu Huan, seeing how frail Ying Xi looked.

“Brother Xi, get well soon. We’ll leave now,” Liu Rushuang said, reluctant to part.

Impatiently, Ying Xi waved them off. “Go on, go on. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Pouting, Liu Rushuang left with Bai Yulou.

Now only Lu Huan and Ying Xi remained in the ward. Lu Huan looked at him. “Inspector Ying, let me know if you need anything.”

“All right.” Ying Xi grinned slyly. “I’d like some water.”

Lu Huan brought a glass. Ying Xi sat up, took a sip, and Lu Huan finished the rest.

“Lu Huan, I’m hungry.”

Lu Huan helped him sit up and fed him. The leftovers, Lu Huan ate.

“Lu Huan, I want an apple.”

Lu Huan peeled an apple, fed Ying Xi, and ate the core himself.

“Lu Huan, I want to eat—”

“Inspector Ying, if you keep eating and drinking like this, won’t your stomach protest?” Lu Huan finally lost patience.

Ying Xi considered this. “You’re right. Help me out of bed for a walk.”

Wiping sweat from his brow, Lu Huan helped him.

Just then, Bao Kang arrived, carrying Ah Hua and a basket of eggs.

“Director Bao, what brings you here?” Ying Xi beamed, surprised by the visit.

“I heard you were ill and came to check on you.” Bao Kang set the eggs on the table. “These are for you—good for recovery.”

“Thank you, Director Bao,” Ying Xi said, deeply moved.

Bao Kang studied Ying Xi, smiling with satisfaction. “You seem fine now. Since you’re on the mend, please get back to investigating Da Bao’s murder. I’ve been at odds with the Chief Inspector lately—our station needs to solve a case quickly, so I can report back and clear things up.”

“But Inspector Ying’s health—” Lu Huan worried about a relapse.

Ying Xi interrupted, looking at Bao Kang ingratiatingly. “I’m fine. I’ll be discharged first thing tomorrow.”

“Inspector Ying has never let me down,” Bao Kang said with a satisfied nod, then left with Ah Hua.

As the weather turned warm, Lu Xiang and Lin Zhi moved the dining table and chairs out into their courtyard for dinner. Several stalks of green bamboo grew there, beneath which lay a bed of spring chives and scattered flowers, exuding the leisurely and refined air of the home’s owners.

“That Bao Kang is a petty man. If not for him, Huan would’ve been awarded ‘Top Detective’ at headquarters!” Lu Xiang complained bitterly to Lin Zhi.

“Let it go. Our son may not even care about being ‘Top Detective,’” Lin Zhi replied indifferently.

Lu Xiang shot her an annoyed look, cheeks puffing with anger. “You don’t understand—woman’s intuition!”

Lin Zhi tapped her chopsticks against her bowl, glaring at him. “If you’re not hungry, get away from the table. Otherwise, just eat.”

Lu Xiang, cowed, said nothing more and quietly ate.

That night, the hospital was especially quiet. Ying Xi lay in bed, gazing out the window. Lu Huan sat in a chair by the bed, looking sleepy.

“Inspector Ying, you don’t need anything else?” Lu Huan asked, exhausted.

“Nothing at the moment.”

“Then I’ll get some sleep.”

“Mm, call me if you need anything.”

Lu Huan nodded helplessly, laying his head on the bed to rest. Ying Xi, seeing how uncomfortable he looked, shifted over. “Since you’ve looked after me all day, come on up.”

“You want me to sleep in the same bed?” Lu Huan’s eyes widened.

“It’s not like we haven’t before. Didn’t we share a bed every day in the dormitory?”

Lu Huan thought for a moment. “That’s true.”

He lay down next to Ying Xi and quickly fell asleep. Ying Xi closed his eyes and soon drifted off as well.

Early the next morning, Liu Rushuang arrived at the ward with fresh flowers, Bai Yulou in tow. But the room was empty; a nurse was tidying up the bed.

“Nurse, where is Mr. Ying who was in this bed?” Liu Rushuang asked.

“He’s been discharged.”

“Discharged?”

“He left at dawn.”

“Why was Brother Xi in such a hurry?” Liu Rushuang looked worried.

Bai Yulou traced an orchid finger through the air. “If he’s discharged, he must be fine! I told you, one cup of bitter herb tea couldn’t kill him.”

Liu Rushuang shot him a cold glare. “Let’s go.”

“Where to?” Bai Yulou asked eagerly.

“To the teahouse. I’ll buy you an extra-strong cup of bitter herb tea—see if it can kill you.”

Realizing her intent, Bai Yulou pleaded miserably, “Sister Shuang, have mercy…”

Liu Rushuang glared at him. “Let’s check by the river. Brother Xi and Lu Huan might have gone to the crime scene.”

The warm sunlight shone on the tranquil surface of the Suzhou River. Lu Huan and Ying Xi arrived at the scene. Lu Huan gazed at the water, frowning slightly. “We have too few clues. I think we need to search the car more thoroughly, but it’s underwater.”

“What do you mean?” Ying Xi was puzzled.

“Haul the car up.”

Ying Xi coughed in disbelief, staring at Lu Huan. “Are you serious? How would you pull up a car that heavy?”

“I have a way. If we set up a pulley system at the right angle, using leverage, we can haul it out. But we’ll need two more people.”

Just then, Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou approached.

“Brother Xi, so you’re really here!” Liu Rushuang called out excitedly.

Ying Xi, seeing them, grinned smugly. “Looks like the two extra hands have arrived.”

Soon, under Lu Huan’s direction, Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou set up the pulleys by the riverbank. Ying Xi and Lu Huan waded into the water to tie ropes around the car, then returned to shore. All four pulled together, finally dragging the car onto land.

Lu Huan opened the car door; water gushed out. Once the interior had drained, Lu Huan and Ying Xi inspected the car.

“There’s a hole here,” Lu Huan pointed at the passenger seat’s leather upholstery.

Ying Xi glanced over and dismissed it. “So there’s a hole—what’s so special about that?”

Lu Huan stared at the small hole, suddenly struck by a thought. “This could be an important clue.”

He recalled Li Yingying had said Da Bao cherished the car, cleaning and maintaining it personally. There shouldn’t have been such a hole unless it happened when Da Bao died.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Huan asked, “Anyone have tweezers?”

“No,” Ying Xi shook his head and turned to Liu Rushuang. “Do you?”

Liu Rushuang folded her arms in disdain. “Who carries tweezers around?”

To their surprise, Bai Yulou nodded sheepishly. “I do.”

Liu Rushuang stared at him in disbelief. “You even have tweezers?”

Bai Yulou explained, taking a small pair from his pocket and flicking his delicate finger across his brow, “I use them for shaping my eyebrows.”

“With tweezers?” Liu Rushuang stared, still confused. “How?”

Bai Yulou perked up, demonstrating with pride. “Like this: pluck the stray hairs, leaving a nice shape. I invented this method.”

“That’s brilliant—why didn’t you tell me before?” Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou wandered off-topic.

Ying Xi, seeing their lively conversation, frowned. “If you two don’t get serious, I’ll clear you out.”

Liu Rushuang immediately fell silent, sticking out her tongue playfully. Bai Yulou pouted, unhappy his chance to chat was cut short.

Ying Xi snatched the tweezers from Bai Yulou and handed them to Lu Huan.

Lu Huan inserted the tweezers into the small hole in the passenger seat, probing for something. Soon, he extracted a white fragment and showed the others. “Take a look—what do you think this is?”

Ying Xi glanced at it indifferently. “A piece of plastic. Nothing special.”

“What could it have broken off from?” Lu Huan wondered aloud.

Liu Rushuang stepped closer, examined it, and clapped her hands in excitement. “I know! It must be from a hair clip.”

“Who wears a white hair clip—someone in mourning?” Ying Xi retorted.

Liu Rushuang was left speechless. Bai Yulou, meanwhile, seemed to have an idea and covered his mouth to hide a smile.

“What are you laughing at? Do you know?” Liu Rushuang asked, annoyed.

Bai Yulou nodded, leaned in, and pointed at the fragment. “If I’m not mistaken, it’s from the heel of a high-heeled shoe.”

“Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?” Liu Rushuang exclaimed, enlightened.

“A shoe heel fragment?” Lu Huan lowered his head, deep in thought. He pictured the scene: in the dim night, in a car submerged in the Suzhou River, a woman’s foot in a white high heel anxiously pressed against the passenger seat. The slender heel punctured the leather, leaving a hole. As she pulled her heel free, a piece broke off.

Lu Huan, turning the fragment in his hand, seemed to be muttering to himself or speaking to the group. “Li Yingying said Da Bao adored this car, cleaning and maintaining it every day... So before the incident, there shouldn’t have been a hole in the seat…”

“It’s just a hole. Maybe Da Bao made it while fooling around with some woman in the car,” Ying Xi remarked dismissively.

Lu Huan shook his head, serious. “I think it was made on the day of the murder—maybe even at the moment it happened.”

“If that’s true, this shoe heel fragment could belong to the killer?” Liu Rushuang picked up the thread.

Lu Huan nodded.

“Sister Shuang, you’re so clever,” Bai Yulou flattered.

Liu Rushuang smiled proudly.

Lu Huan stared at the fragment, his eyes resolute. “This heel fragment is likely a vital clue left by the murderer.”

“If you put the same effort into solving the case as you do into studying women’s shoes, we’d have been promoted and sitting pretty in front of the Chief Inspector by now,” Ying Xi scoffed, seeing Lu Huan so absorbed.

Lu Huan ignored him, deep in thought. He felt certain this tiny fragment was key, but in a city as large as Old Zha, where would he find the owner of these high heels? For now, he had no answer.

Early that morning, Zhu Wolong went to the police station to pester Bao Ruo, who remained as cold as ever. So he ended up in Bao Kang’s office, sitting on the sofa, drinking tea, and complaining.

“Director Bao, I’m devoted to Miss Bao, but she’s always so indifferent to me.”

“Xiao Ruo is a reserved girl, not good at expressing her feelings. You might need to be more proactive,” Bao Kang replied, wearing a conciliatory smile.

“But I’m already very proactive—I bring her flowers nearly every day, but she gives them all to the morgue,” Zhu Wolong sighed in frustration.

“She’s not fond of flowers, actually.”

“Then maybe jewelry?” Zhu Wolong looked hopeful.

“In fact, she doesn’t really care for the usual things girls like,” Bao Kang said, looking awkward.

Zhu Wolong deflated. “You told me she likes books, but when I gave her one, she seemed furious.”

“Oh?” Bao Kang was puzzled. “What did you give her?”

“‘The Plum in the Golden Vase’—all my friends recommended it.”

Bao Kang coughed awkwardly, choosing his words carefully. “Xiao Ruo isn’t fond of that type of book.”

“Really? Then what does she like?” Zhu Wolong pressed.

Bao Kang hesitated. “Actually, I don’t read much myself, so I can’t really advise you…”

“Miss Bao is so different from other girls—I just don’t know how to proceed—how to pursue her,” Zhu Wolong corrected himself hastily.

Bao Kang laughed it off. “Of course she’s not like other girls.”

“So what should I do now?” Zhu Wolong asked pitifully.

Suddenly, Bao Kang had an idea. “I know! Miss Bao has always admired talented people. Why don’t you write her a love poem? It might move her.”

“Write a poem?” Zhu Wolong blushed, twisting awkwardly.

Bao Kang nodded encouragingly.

With no better option, Zhu Wolong steeled himself. “All right! I’ll compose a poem. Let me think…” He paced the room, scratching his head in thought.

Bao Kang watched him, full of anticipation.

After a while, Zhu Wolong stopped suddenly, eyes lighting up. “Got it!”

“Let’s hear it,” Bao Kang said.

Zhu Wolong, hands behind his back, began to recite solemnly, “If you were a dog, I’d be a pile of dung. I might smell awful, but you’d always think of me, and when you saw me, you’d just want to eat me up. Because… a dog can’t change its nature.”

Bao Kang’s jaw dropped. Even he, a worldly man, hadn’t expected Zhu Wolong to be so crude.

Zhu Wolong looked to Bao Kang hopefully. “Well? Doesn’t that perfectly capture the bond between Miss Bao and me?”

Bao Kang swallowed awkwardly, giving up on the idea of having Zhu Wolong write poetry. “Better to find a poem by a real poet.”

“By whom?”

Bao Kang smiled knowingly and called out, “Baldy!”

Soon, the bald officer came running in, saluted, and bowed. “Director Bao, what do you need?”

Bao Kang cleared his throat. “I have a very important task for you: find me a love poem by a great writer.”

“A love poem?” the officer looked confused.

“Yes, something deeply affectionate—heartfelt, soul-stirring, unforgettable,” Bao Kang specified.

“Yes, sir.” The officer turned to go.

“And hurry!” Bao Kang reminded him.

The officer hurried off.

Lu Huan and Ying Xi, heel fragment in hand, returned to Da Bao’s house.

Lu Huan knocked while Ying Xi stood behind, deliberately hiding himself.

Li Yingying opened the door, her expression immediately turning cold at the sight of Lu Huan. “Officer, what now?”

Before Lu Huan could answer, Ying Xi sprang out from behind, giving Li Yingying a suggestive smile. “Can’t I just come to see you?”

The moment she saw Ying Xi, Li Yingying’s demeanor changed, becoming coquettish. She ignored Lu Huan and warmly took Ying Xi’s hand. “Inspector Ying! What brings you here? Come in, come in.”

Lu Huan watched in surprise as Ying Xi, looking smug, entered the house ahead of him.